Varvaressos raises sustainability bar

At Première Vision Paris this month, the Greek yarn manufacturer Varvaressos will unveil the new generation of smart cotton, born from an innovative and socially responsible system granting sustainability from the cotton seed to the garment, while supporting farmers and businesses at the foot of Mount Olympus.

“Organic cotton is a fundamental first step, but for us it wasn’t enough,” said Argirios Sarridis, Managing Director of Varvaressos. “As a true master in smart cotton science, the company has raised the bar by augmenting the skills and heritage of local farmers and businesses.”

New collection

A satellite-powered drip irrigation system, Made in Europe and a set of eco-certifications that grant 100% traceable products and attest corporate responsibility are behind the new collection by Varvaressos. For the first time, the company joins the Smart Creation, Première Vision’s exhibition platform for cutting-edge innovators, to present its Supreme Green Cotton (SGC) collection.

Varvaressos’ SGC is said to match the highest European and international standards, without compromising on quality. The collection meets the requirements for high-end garments, thanks to uniformity, superior strength, contamination-free and long-staple eco-fibres, the company reports.

From smart cotton fields…

Water usage is one of the pressing issues in cotton production. Varvaressos utilises Israeli ultimate technologies and expertise in water management and has customised a sustainable technology that allows to reduce water consumption up to 40%. Thanks to the advanced drip irrigation system, plants are watered and fed without wasting water. Thanks to a custom-developed app connected via satellite and meteorological stations in selected cotton fields, farmers can monitor the fields in real time. The IoT – Internet of Things system advises them to take action for plant flourish healthily and higher yields in a sustainable way.

Another critical issue of cotton production is GMO. All the farmers and producers are carefully selected in order to guarantee the highest GMO-free quality, as well as the most sustainable standards in line with EU strict regulations.

…to responsible ginning and spinning

“For four generations, Varvaressos has taken care of its territory, meeting the economic needs and increasing the productivity of local farmers and businesses. Indeed, the whole supply chain is located within 200 km by the company. To prove such commitment, the company has equipped the Supreme Green Cotton collection with a QR code providing detailed information about all the production phases, making the products 100% traceable,” the manufacturer explains.

Certifications and corporate responsibility

The collection’s quality is guaranteed by certifications, such as the Made in Green by Oeko-Tex, which attests the transparency and traceability. The company has also obtained the STeP by Oeko-Tex – a certification for environmentally friendly and socially responsible production facilities along the textiles chain, ISO 9001 and ISO 14001. The aim of STeP by Oeko-Tex is to continually improve production conditions and health and safety in all business areas. “At the same time, we achieve health and safety work conditions for the farmers in the cotton fields,” added Mr Sarridis.

Thanks to the uniqueness in terms of sustainability and high-tech imprint of Supreme Green Cotton by Varvaressos, it has become partner of C.L.A.S.S., the smart platform and global resource for smart material innovation, education, marketing and communication. The collection will join the world-touring Smart Materials Bank, C.LA.S.S. educational platform and samples’ e-shop designed to allow responsible creatives and brands to discover and experiment some of the most cutting-edge and sustainable producers.

Next step

“Varvaressos’ effort has led to a completely sustainable supply chain that ranges from the crops to the ginning, spinning, process to produce a premium cotton yarn collection,” continued Mr Sarridis.

“We are working on the further development and integrations of such system, which includes also knitting/weaving, dyeing and finishing and garment manufacturing processes. In order further conquer the trust of Supreme Green Cotton consumers, we are looking at the ultimate technologies, such as the Blockchain, as a tool to guarantee the total transparency of the process.”